Ashdown MAG 300R Head

(Originally written by seb_c_bien/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Solid-state amp.

Passive / active input.

Octaver effect (more like a toy)

Bright and deep controls, EQ.

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use

SOUNDS

Now that I play Gallien-krueger I don't like this amp head anymore but that doesn't mean it's not a quality tool.

It has a rather special sound.

it's warm, round, raw and growling!

The integrated octaver effect is really bad!

This head provides best results with high gain and volume settings, otherwise it doesn't really show all its value.

The sound is pleasant and nice but it doesn't match my needs anymore because it's not punchy enough. The Deep control gives impressive results and the Bright control adds a bit more clarity.

The sound has a wooden vintage character and it isn't good for slapping

Very good value for money but very colored sound (which might be and advantage for some...??).

I don't recommend it for heavy metal or punk rock, but it's perfect for British rock, soft rock and pop.

This amp has a very unique sound!

OVERALL OPINION

EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY!

(Originally written by seb_c_bien/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Solid-state amp.

Passive / active input.

Octaver effect (it's only a toy)

Bright and deep controls, EQ.

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use

SOUNDS

My setup: Ibanez ATK-300, the amplifier head and one 15" Fender Bassman speaker cabinet.

I was surprised: the sound is very warm. I find the output power could be higher but you'll have enough sound for rehearsals and live gigs. Typical classic rock sound (one might even say vintage). You get distortion pretty fast (I like that). But given that the EQ is not what I would call effective, the amp is not very versatile so you'll have to test it before buying it. The sound is always round and I like its growling low-end and the low mids. It could have more brilliance and more attack to satisfy me. I find the Deep control very effective and powerful. It produces an impressively round and wide sound. On the contrary, the Bright control is rather ineffective but it allows you to add a bit more precision to the sound. The integrated octaver effect is really bad!



The comprehensive connections give you a lot of versatility, which isn't the case with the sound. You can't really compare it to an Ampeg, it's two different worlds altogether. I find the sound fatter and rounder than with an Ampeg, but an Ampeg has much more punch and power. It depends on your budget and taste.

As soon as I can I'll add a 2x10" speaker cabinet to have more dynamics.

I think this amp is not conceived for slapping!

It sounds too round, warm and growling.

OVERALL OPINION

EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY!

307-watt amplifier transistors, 5-band equalizer, rglages of "sub_harmoniques" (octave a bit inflated. The use is simple, basic, but enough! Tired of equalizers 25 bands!

UTILIZATION

Trs quickly found her a suitable largemement for this award are the highs can be too Submitted (hence necessarily to inflate a little), but the sound is pretty nickel

SOUNDS

I play rock-jazz, it is all done, I deprecated the amp for mtalleux, because the sound "fat" can not find. The amp tends to push a little too low, also the lowest frquence should not be too inflated.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a week! This head is really a good value trs quality-price (420 euros)

This is just an amplifier transistors rated at 307 W RMS into 4 ohms (and approximately 200 W into 8 ohms).
It offers a fairly comprehensive range of features for an amp of this price range, since there are
2 instrument inputs (one active, one passive), a gain of SETTING THE, a 5-band EQ, a boost treble, a serious boost, a subharmonizer, an on / off switch for the EQ , an effects loop, an XLR Direct Out (post EQ), 2 HP (6.35 cm), 1 SETTING THE output level.
Apart from a few dtails (no drive because no lamp in the prampli, 5-band EQ instead of 7, choice pre / post EQ on the DI, etc..), This amp is the direct hritier (and cheaper) of the ABM SERIES of the same manufacturer.
Last point: since t 2003, SERIES MAG is assembled in China (in the case of the head that I possde).
I put 9 only because in some cases I trs prcis apprci a drive, even if, as we shall see below, the receiver would pass easily and in any fawn, a head of quality less than 400 EUR, do not ask for the moon ...

UTILIZATION

This amp is very simple to use as the conus Fawn rglages are intuitive.
The level of rglage is facilitated through the window with her little hand.
As with any amp I would recommend to the corrections for zero-start and then refine the sound by not correcting what is absolutely necessary and ncessaire. Never forget that the serious to the bottom, then bottom and finally the mediums acute thoroughly, not only useless, but in addition brings low volume final against the risks it poses to your amp (and I dare evokes the risk of "clipping" murderer for enciente).
The manual? Know! Never needed to open!
Finally, some tips, which I find they work well with this head particulirement:
If you have an active bass, dgrossisez the most of your sound on your bass playing with the tone, the volume of pickups or microphones balance, and if available, the split single / double coil.
If your bass is passive: put everything back on the bass, then adjust by keeping one simple principle: if you have such a low hum, turn down the bass instead of going up the rest. This may remind stepfather child, but every day I see committing bassists such errors.

SOUNDS

This amp is rsolument destiny lovers sounds hot. You plug it, as I have done, a Rickenbacker 4003, a Fender Precision, a Fender Jazz, a Music Man or Warwick Corevtte active, heat is always balance.
Done particulirement apprciable (at least for me): I come without difficulty with the MAG-300R, dbarrasser me tons of acute dlivrs by Music Man. I tried the same thing with a Hartke 5500: nada, that slab, disqualified.
I use the head with this cabinet MAG-210T (2 HP 10 'as the name suggests, and 200 W continuous power handling of a impdance 8 ohms).
The power is dlivre trs satisfactory or thunder, for a configuration that is not assumed that dlivrer 200 W. In the vrit Hartke 5500 (again!) With the baffle 410XL, 400 W, however, believes in this configuration (8 ohms), do not send more frankly than his Ashdown.
I intend, however, ramp up, and as such I just order the cabinet MAG-410t, Premire tape of this evolution which will, as soon as possible j'espre, replacing MAG-300R by his great ERRF MAG-600R.
To conclude, the sounds are dlivrs trs hot, with a clear DEFINITIONS guides in the bass and midrange, even with five strings and even a cabinet with 2x10 " . A config thunder, especially since all came back less than 700 EUR, home delivery included.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this amp extensively (daily and 50 SRAP 60 concerts a year, not counting rptitions high volume) and grain j'apprcie this reminds me of the SVT (but less fat ), a little Trace Elliot (but with a more vintage color) and a Sunn Concert Bass just the 70s (but with more body in frquences that "roar").
I bought this amp on two bases: 1 / advice of friends that I have a bass players all over the pla, te, 2 / the sound of a bass player I've seen a night on sc MAG250 do with a cabinet and a 2x10 ". The Warwick (Thumb a good c'tait OK, but when even ...) sounded simply monstrous.
Apart from concern that a mini does not prevent the operation of the receiver (the light of needle does not work), this amp gives me any satisfaction, and gives me the feeling that no v lcher. So I would do the same choice today, except the meantime MAG600R came out a reasonable price and that's certainly the one that I would directly coupled a baffle MAG410-T (4 x 10 ").
But I say: even as a professional musician, I am extremely pleased with this amp, which give me an (almost) complete satisfaction.
Just be careful with the risks of addiction: I became an intoxicating sound Ashdown, and each time I play on another, I find them too gnralement acute or weakness in the lower mediums.